Grow Omaha 1-11-2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Grow Omaha, the only radio show that talks
about economic development, construction, business expansion, and all of those
things that make Omaha a great place to live or visit.
Grow Omaha on News Radio eleven ten.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Ka, Baby, Well, good morning, and welcome to the show.
Jeff Beils here at your service, Broadcasting live from the
kfab Penthouse Studio Hi above Underwood Avenue and beautiful downtown Dundee.
This is the only show in the metro area that
talks about business expansion, real estate, construction, economic development, and
really anything related to Omaha becoming more vibrant, more prosperous.

(00:35):
We're brought to you by Dingman's Collision Center along with
Cheer Athletics, the nation's number one all star Cheer Jim.
Without any further ado, it's time to bring on my
co host, a legendary real estate deal maker in the
flesh and all around living legend, Trenton Maggot.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
You are two kind mister Bial's. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Good morning Trenton, and hey, we got to share a
little something that's kind of fun with Girl Maha listeners. Today.
Trent and I had a chance to preview the new
Wiener Schnitzel restaurant. It is just northeast of seventy second
and Grover, just north of Interstate eighty. It is the
first one in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, anywhere around here.

(01:18):
Closest existing locations are in Denver and Champagne, Illinois. And
this is the legendary hot dog stand that started in
nineteen sixty one in southern California class at California Place.
They have about three hundred to three hundred and fifty locations,
mostly California and Texas. And it opens today lunchtime, I

(01:41):
think around eleven o'clock or so. But Trenton and I
got to preview it, and yeah, for fast food, I'd
say it's pretty good.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
Absolutely quick service restaurant. And they've got all beef hot dogs,
but they also have different types of hot dogs, hamburgers,
chili fries.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
Chili dogs, beef dog ugs, cheese dunk, all sorts of things.
It was really good week. They're also part of Tasty Freeze.
I didn't know that. Yeah, they bought Tasty Freeze local franchisees.
We got a chance to talk to them, John and
Rachel Steier and then from California. They're taking this Nebraska
opening seriously. We were there at four o'clock and we

(02:19):
were with the CEO, the CFO, the CMO, the COO
or like g mini, and they said, hey, we really
want to make a splash in the Midwest, and this
is our first store in the region and they take
it very seriously. So go give it a try if
you like hot dogs. It was a fun little place
and it should do very well. Check got our Facebook page.
Two we got Jeff and I are honored. Apparently these

(02:40):
are a high demand. They might be collector's items. We've
got the great one.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
It's a plush toy of the Wiener Schnitzel mascot. So
check it out on our Facebook page. Traffic's gonna skyrocket. Now, well,
let's go into our News of the week, which is
brought to you by Eagle Mortgage. Egle Mortgage Company dot Com.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Located at one hundred and fourteenth and Daviport, just out
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(03:18):
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They shop the market to find the best loan for you.
Eagle Mortgage Company dot com. Well, first up, Trenton, The
Hilton Omaha Hotel is nearing completion of a fifteen thousand
square foot outdoor multi purpose event space. It's going to

(03:39):
be called Cass Street Green and it's basically artificial turf.
When you go it's almost done. I went and saw
it earlier this week, and you go buy it. There's
artificial turf, but they're doing this. This is where they'll
put up tents for you know, maybe tailgate things before
sporting events at Charles schwab Field. They can have outdoor weddings,

(04:01):
outdoor corporate meetings. So it's this very versatile space. It
also happens to be a story. There's a story about
it on gromha dot com, So just go there and
you can read about it. But you know the Hilton,
it's the largest hotel in Nebraska by a number of rooms.
It's connected to the Chi Convention Center. Now this will
be more meeting space for them. So we got that

(04:21):
going for us, which is nice. Next up, we have
condo development in Omaha in twenty twenty four. It was bad.
I mean, it was non existent in all of twenty
twenty four. According to Bob Daily, who's an attorney at
McGrath north who studies condo's condo expert, he sends us

(04:43):
this information every year, in all of twenty twenty four
in the city of Omaha, there were a grand total
of eleven, count them, eleven condo units and of those
eleven resident no, only three were residential.

Speaker 3 (04:58):
Interesting.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, so we got to get on. So would be
condo developers out there, there's a great opportunity for you.
The state legislature just a few years ago passed a
new law that makes condo development much more advantageous for developers,
much safer, reduced a lot of the legal risks that

(05:19):
were there. And so I hope that there are some
condo would be erstwhile condo developers out there who are
really making some plans right now, because there is a
monster hole in that market. We're building thousands and thousands
of apartment units right now, and essentially no condo you're.

Speaker 3 (05:37):
Saying, is the former mean streets of condo development aren't
as mean.

Speaker 2 (05:43):
Well, that's what you just said, but I'm not sure
if that's what I said. In Common Community Development is
seeking seven hundred thousand TAXI commit financing loan for a
nineteen million dollar project called Poppleton East. This will be
located right on the southeast corner of Park Avenue and

(06:04):
Poppleton Street. Really cool mixed use infill project. There, one
hundred and twenty new apartment units, four thousand square feet
of commercial. Looks like we're going to be the Phase
one will be a four story, fifty one unit project,
and then there will be more to come. Construction is
slated to begin in March and end in September.

Speaker 3 (06:26):
There's a subsidized rent project, right, I think a certain control.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Percentage of it will be for residents. Twenty eight of
the units are reserved for residents making add or below
fifty percent of the area's media income for that project. Okay,
all right. We have the historic Carnation Ballroom at twenty
seven to eleven North twenty fourth Street is going to
be redeveloped. It is sixty three hundred square foot space

(06:54):
going to be commercial, with five divisible spaces for office
and retail use. No tenants have been announced. The city
designated the Carnation Ballroom as an historic landmark in twenty three.
It was originally a bakery store, but it became historically
significant as a ballroom established by Mildred Brown, founder of

(07:14):
the Omaha Star. And completion is anticipated on that project
for the fall of twenty twenty seven, and then Ronco
Construction and along with White Lotus Development, are making progress
on the Nova. This is a five story building. It
will have seventy four apartment units twenty thousand square feet

(07:36):
of retail space in Millwork Commons north of Charles schwab Field.
It's just a forty thousand square foot site, so real
nice infill project there. It's part of what is just
becoming a burgeoning Millwork Commons, a.

Speaker 3 (07:52):
Certainly convertic the city's going to build.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, it'll be right south of the future city owned
parking guards, which has not started yet, but we believe
that's starting this year. If I understand correctly. Millwork Commons
though blowing up because you've got the Dizzy Mule project
wrapping up, You've got the Millwork Hotel renovations which are
going to start this year. You got this project that
I mentioned, Nova has now come out of the ground.

(08:16):
They've got the elevator shafts since stairwell's going up. You've
got the frame forty five million dollar project west of
the Ashton doing foundation work right now. So real, really
exciting times for millwork commons. Well, let's go ahead and
wrap up the news of the week, brought to you
by Eagle Mortgage, because we have Heath Mellow with us.
He is the President and CEO of the Great Omaha Chamber,

(08:37):
and whenever we have Heath on the show, we like
to talk about various development projects. We're going to ask
him about economic related economic development related things in the
unicameral which just started this year's session, and a lot
of construction projects and everything else will stay with us.
We're going to have Heath Mellow on here in a moment.
You're listening to Jeff and trenton. It's Grow Omaha. It's

(08:58):
brought to you by Dingman's a lot with Cheer Athletics,
and we'll be back in a moment on news Radio
eleven ten kfab and welcome back to the show. Jeff
Beils and Trenton Maggot sitting here with you, and we
appreciate you join us. We are brought to you by
Dingman's Collision Center along with Cheer Athletics that is the
nation's number one All Star cheer. Jim, what is all

(09:18):
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(09:39):
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more at Caomaha dot com. While we have Heath Mellow
with us today. Heath is the president and CEO of

(10:00):
the Greater Omaha Chamber, and it's nice enough to join
us a few times a year and talk to us
about economic development and omahas and metro areas progress from
his perspective, Heath, good morning, welcome back.

Speaker 4 (10:12):
Good morning, Jeff, Good morning, Trenton. Glad to be with
both of you.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
Well, we appreciate it, and and we'll have to looking
back at what's been happening lately. We've got to start
in the center of the city, even though we're going
to talk about a lot of different things. But the
progress we've made in the urban core in the last
year and the projects we have coming up in the
urban core pretty exciting right now. You could say historically unprecedented,

(10:37):
you know.

Speaker 4 (10:39):
Always it's always great to talk about what's happening in
the urban core, you know. And I'd say in twenty
twenty four, there was a lot of positivity around some
major projects. I know we've talked about and highlighted in
the show. The mayors highlighted as well, you know, some
fairly big projects around housing. And I can kind of
think of anything we talk a lot about. I think

(10:59):
there is somewhere along the line, I think maybe seven
major housing projects that that were announced over the past year.
You total those up with with some of the projects
in the in the end of twenty twenty three and
nearly twenty five hundred new housing units in the urban core,
which is really moving us towards that goal of wanting
to add thirty thousand more residents in the urban core

(11:22):
as part of the Chambers Urban Core Strategic Plan. And
so that really is kind of in a nutshell, really
exciting to see that portion of the urban core development
continue to happen, because we know thirty thousand residents by
thirty thirty thousand jobs, thirty thousand residents by two thousand
and thirty by twenty forty. Close, but it is bottom

(11:46):
see closer, Yeah, say that's that's that's that's really close.
But but but I think we've we've been very very
excited to see, you know, the economic development work that
happens with business attraction, business expansion is vital, but we
know got to have the housing component as well to
be able to bring the residents to the area. And
this was a year that we finally saw that kind

(12:08):
of catch fire a little bit in concert with what
we had what we saw in twenty twenty three, and
so that kind of feels we've got some momentum in
the housing component as well. You know that being said
there there recently and it really was was was really
just this this past week. You know, there's one of
the big projects that's outlined in the chambers Urban Core

(12:30):
Strategic Plan is the redevelopment of the thirtieth and Dodge Interchange,
and the Chamber partnered with the Urban Land Institute Nebraska
Chapter to engage what is called a TAP, a Technical
Assistance panel where where they bring in a variety of

(12:51):
different experts, planners, real estate professionals, engineers to engage with
various stakeholders in the community to kind of help do
a visioning process of what that kind of area could
look like in terms of a major redevelopment, so to speak.
And I can't share too much because it's not quite done,

(13:11):
but I got a quick sneak peak of what that
potential major redevelopment could look like, and it's really exciting,
let's just say, in terms of what that one of
the big moves as part of our strategic plan could
ultimately look like in terms of a very exciting mixed
use development in terms of part of the urban core.

(13:31):
And once again, when you see I think a variety
of different stakeholders come to the table, you know, the state,
the city, the private sector, of the philanthropic community, all
leaning in in a space where they want to see
jobs and people come together in terms of trying to
grow the urban core. This experience that I got a

(13:53):
brief kind of glimpse earlier this week with the Urban
Land Institute's TAP project Reinforce Verse, is what the momentum
we're going to continue to see. I'm convinced in the
urban core moving forward.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
It's always fun to see the stakeholders. I remember when
Steve Barton was had a Blue Cross Blue shield. He
was in charge of like bringing other insurance companies to Omaha.
The Chamber has always been good about that. I think
I was on the Retail committee. I'm trying to remember
what the name of those focus groups were tag tags,
Target Advisor Group, I think, and there's a bunch of

(14:26):
different ones and we we were tasked with donating our
time bringing in people, just like in two thousand and
eight when I was involved in selling the Tender Heart
Treasures building to the first Data Center, which which was
Yahoo engineers and the CFO services type guys that they

(14:48):
come in and state and centers and things like that.
It is neat that people contribute their time for the
betterment of their community, even if it's bringing in their competition.

Speaker 4 (14:57):
You know, it's funny you say that, Trenton, because because really,
you know, the business attraction work that the Chamber does,
you know, our our our Economic Development Council, you know,
in the in the last year has has really kind
of started to refocus a little bit of that work
and trying to engage some of the tags that we

(15:17):
used to have in the sense of trying to re
engage them a little bit in that work, realizing that
we have some opportunities with some of these industries, industries
inside the urban core, but also some industries that are
that we feel are significant opportunities in the greater metro region.
One of those major industries that were really significantly exploring

(15:37):
more and more now in the next three years is
going to be the defense industry. We really feel there's
a tremendous opportunity in the metro region with the significant
opportunity down at off At Air Force Base, the tremendous
investments that have been made at Stratcom, and the reinvestments
that have been made at the base in part due

(15:59):
to the leadership of our federal delegation, particularly US Senator
Dev Fisher Congressman Don Bacon, that we can bring more
defense contractors to the region through an expansion of various
missions and an expansion and more investment of federal funding
and so bringing in some of those defense contractors as

(16:19):
part of a defense tag, so to speak, is something
that we've been working on and exploring a little bit
at the Chamber and trying to re engage some of
those strategies that the Chamber has deployed in the past.
Is something that you'll likely hear us and see talk
a little bit more about in twenty twenty five as well.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
Talking with Heath Mellow, President CEO of the Greater Omaha
Chamber and Heath. On November fifth, the voters in the
City of Omaha proved a bond issue to expand chi
Hell Center Omaha, particularly the meeting space on the east
side of the building. Talk to us a little bit
about your thoughts on that project and what that extra
meeting space could mean for collateral development in that part

(16:58):
of downtown.

Speaker 4 (16:59):
Well, you know, you know, there was a lot that
happened on November fifth, and the one thing that probably
I cared more about than anything else was the city
bond issues. And I think most folks who chatted with
me and Chadow, with folks of the Chamber, knew that
this was something that a number of folks involved in
the Chamber, you know, we're really engaged in, particularly through

(17:22):
the Building Omaha's Future Committee, you know. And when we
saw that the bond issues across the across the spectrum
passed with over seventy percent, it really it really was
a great night, and particularly the the CCHI Health Center expansion,
because we know anytime you're able to see a two
hundred million dollar public private partnership of this magnitude pass

(17:46):
with seventy percent of the vote from from the City
of Omaha voters where it can bring in over a
billion dollars of convention business, you know that you've got
a city that truly embraces economic development. And I think
that was something that we felt really great about. Mayor
Stothard felt really great about, and I think the business

(18:09):
and community leaders who were part of that Building Omaha's
Future Committee who were out and about talking about this,
particularly Lance Fritz, who chaired the committee job. He did
a great job. I listened to the show. He was fabulous.
I mean, folks who are out engaging the community, trying
to reinforce this is something that wasn't a tax increased.
We were able to do this in a very strategic

(18:29):
way as a community in embracing the work. The philanthropic
community is willing to help to help to put money
on the table to help grow the economy as well.
It really is I think a testament to what Omaha
can do when the business community works with the city,
works with the philanthropic community to really try to ensure

(18:49):
that Omaha is competitive in a space like this, because
we knew we were falling behind. We were truly behind
other communities in the convention the convention business. I mean,
it was something that Mecca and Roger Dixon were very
transparent about that we were losing we were losing business.
If we didn't do this, we had a chance to lose,
you know, up to fifteen million dollars a year right

(19:11):
off the bat to other competitive cities if we did
not expand the Chi Health Center convention convention space, and so,
I think of anything, it was the one thing that
probably had a lot of folks pay a lot of
attention to politics, and I get that, and on November fifth,
that was the one thing that you know, I was
probably more proud of anything that the Chamber had been

(19:34):
able to do, working with a variety of business leaders,
working in concert with community leaders, you know, the city overall,
the mayor, the council, everybody who supported this work to
really see that the Convention Center expansion happened. And now
it's to some extent the projects moving full steam ahead,
and I think we're excited to be able to see

(19:56):
that economic growth come from it.

Speaker 3 (19:57):
And further than that, it speaks volumes from the outset
side businesses that are looking to expand into Omaha when
you can tell them the success stories about how the
citizens and the stakeholders the business community see the future
of Omaha and doors and put their money where their
mouth is. That says, hey, I want to go there

(20:17):
and I want to expand my business there as well.

Speaker 4 (20:20):
It does. I mean, I think when you look at it,
this was I mean, this was outside outside of the
building of the initial the original convention Center. I mean,
this was the largest bond campaign both from an engagement
perspective and a financing perspective the city's ever seen, and

(20:41):
to some extent between the mayor and the business community,
this was something that was really unprecedented, and I think
being able to go out and see the victory that
it had, I mean, the seventy percent was. I mean,
I think we like to highlight the original convention center
past that was a fifty one to forty nine, this
past with over seventy seventy percent. So I mean showing

(21:02):
that that that that the community now is embracing this
to this level and that we're able to go out
and highlight this across the country is really just I
think another feather in the cap in terms of being
able to highlight where Omaha is moving right now in
terms of our economic development work and where we want
to be able to grow as a region in.

Speaker 2 (21:23):
A community well. And hopefully it will lead to a
third convention hotel down the road, but that's another project.

Speaker 4 (21:31):
To another another project for another conversation.

Speaker 3 (21:34):
But being good stewards of the money, It's what's nice
about it is that Roger Dixon and everybody involved in it,
they've the last twenty five years they've they've taken the
money that they've been given and be good stewards of it,
and that allows them to be trusted.

Speaker 4 (21:48):
You know, that was the one thing I'd say, Trent,
and I I did share that, you know, every every
time I could share this with anyone. You know, Mecca
turned back, turn back revenue to the city every single year.
And I think that's something that that taxpayers and residents
of Omaha should be proud of in the sense that
this unique partnership between Mecca and the city that they

(22:09):
give money back every single year, which no one thought
that would happen. And so when people cast that ballot
for this expansion, they're casting a ballot to expand something
that's generating revenue every single year back to the city,
which is truly great for the city, but it's great
for our economy. And I think that's from someone who
thinks about economic growth and economic development every day. I

(22:31):
think that's really I think the biggest win for everybody.

Speaker 2 (22:35):
Well, that voice you're hearing is Heath Mellow, President and
CEO the Greater Omaha Chamber. We're going to keep talking
with Heath about a few things when we come back
as we break for the news. But you're listening to
grow Omaha. Brought to you by Dingman's Collision Center and
Cheer Athletics on News Radio eleven ten kfab and welcome
back to the show. I am Jeff Beal sitting next
to my friend Trenton Maggot. We are brought to you

(22:57):
by Cheer Athletics along with Dingman's Collision Center for metro
area locations, take very good care of your automobile. Doesn't
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(23:17):
they are the best of Omaha. All right, it's time
for your Nodel Companies Commercial real estate development Spotlight of
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(23:37):
But we really care about their Omaha projects at Sarbon
Village Builders, District, River's Edge, Steel Ridge, so many others
headquarters buildings they've built like crazy. Well, today's news is
Zaytuna Zaituna. I don't know how to pronounce it. It's
zay t Una zy Tuna. Sure. It's a very good
Mediterranean cuisine restaurant inside the Inner Rail which is in

(24:01):
ex Sarbon Village and they're going to go get a
big time location seventy two oh four Jones Street in
the former Cops Pizza restaurant space. Wow Zaituna is family
owned business, opened in twenty twenty. They also have food
trucks that they have looks like they have one stationed
on South thirteenth Street. They have one stationed in Bellevue

(24:24):
and their menu features popular items such as falafel, chicken
shawarm up and baba ganush Excellent. I'm gonna say that right,
I'm there. That sounds delicious. I'll be to go there
in the heartbeat.

Speaker 3 (24:40):
A lot of these food halls are really incubators, and
so when something goes really well, they want to break
out either keep that location or have a full scale.

Speaker 2 (24:49):
Yeah, and that's what that's what Interrail's all about. I mean,
you know, in a lot of ways they want people
to graduate from it because they're constantly looking for the
next concept to bring in. Like you said Trent and incubator.
All right, you're not all companies commercial real estate development Spotlight.
You can find out more by going to not acompanies
dot com. We have Heath Mellow with US president and
CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber making his quarterly visit

(25:14):
and Heath, we got a very exciting thing happening in March,
and that is there's a ninety nine point nine to
nine percent likelihood when the US Census Bureau releases its
county population estimates for the first time, the Omaha metro
area will be above one million people. What does that mean?

(25:39):
What does that do for us?

Speaker 4 (25:40):
Well, it's been a long time coming, Jeff, I think
I know, I know you and Trent and have talked
about this for a while. I know this has been
this has been talked about in the community for a
while too. I mean, anytime a metro region hits that
million population mark, it really really separates the metro region

(26:01):
from from kind of the the the mid size cities
to kind of being viewed now is is kind of
a major metro, major metro area. Just that million, million
population mark really kind of puts you somewhere. It helped
with federal I think, well, that's you're gonna you just
got to let me get there, Trent, go ahead. I'm

(26:23):
so excited about this, about this million million marks.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
He likes to call that either seg or throwing yourself.

Speaker 4 (26:29):
But uh, but no, that's the the the biggest thing
is is kind of the you know, it really kind
of puts you in a different different eschelon at the
end of the day. And you know, one, it's it's
a branding, it's a marketing thing at the end of
the day. For for a regional perspective, but yes, it
does from a pure grants perspective of federal funding perspective,
it moves you into a different category as well. And

(26:50):
I think that from a from a regional metro perspective
and dealing with federal agencies, that is something that will
be beneficial to us as well. I think that is
that's something in particularly in terms of the work we
have enable to do with our federal delegation is has
been terrific. Congressman Bacon has been a terrific advocate for us.

(27:11):
You know, I think to some extent, Congressman Fistra on
the other side of the river and in Western Iowa
as well. So in that particular sense, yes, there's additional
federal benefits in terms of federal funding that comes with
hitting that million, that million population mark. But I think
there's something that happens just in the in the mental
space in terms of uh when when you think about

(27:33):
the the Omaha metro space being we're a million, we're
a million population mark, you then start thinking yourself as
a big city or a big metro region, and big cities,
big metros start doing big things and start thinking about
doing bigger things. And I think that's kind of the
mentality I think you'll, I hope when that that announcement comes,
we start as a region and start start talking a

(27:56):
little bit more and more about that. You know, when
you hit that million population mark, you start comparing yourselves
more and more to other million, million population regions. You're
not comparing yourselves to smaller Midwest cities in other Midwest areas.
You are being compared to cities and metro regions that

(28:16):
are going to be considerably larger to you because you're
over a million in population. So in that sense, it's
exciting in one way, but it also I also think
it also puts us in a position where I would
say it's also the start of probably the next chapter
in some form or another, where our growth opportunities are

(28:37):
going to continue. In another way that population growth. We
hit that million mark, we can't take our ball off,
our eyes off the ball of wanting to continue to grow.
I mean, we're going to want to continue to grow.
And what's that next benchmark in terms of where we're
going to need to compete in terms of population growth
to compare ourselves against Kansas City, you know, other metro
regions that are over a million. Clearly that we've got

(28:59):
to try to get one point five, you know, one
point six, one point seventy five in the future. But
if anything, we want to we want to bask in
that announcement when it happens. I think we want to
be able to to kind of celebrate a little bit,
take advantage of what what we know will be some
unique opportunities as a region.

Speaker 3 (29:16):
So it was the first million that's hardest to get.
It is the first million that's that's us. Get into
two million, no, no problem.

Speaker 4 (29:25):
But but then then I think it it really is
kind of a it really is kind of a what's
next at the end of the day and where do
you continue to to plan and plot and move a
forward of how we continue to grow.

Speaker 2 (29:35):
Well, well, may God be with us, because the Nebraska
Legislature is now officially in session, Heath, and we know
you spent eight years uh in the Nebraska legislature. But
the Chamber every year has obviously some some special interest
and important interest of of what happens in the unicam

(29:56):
what what are what are what are the chamber executs
to board members and yourself hoping to get out of
this year's session.

Speaker 4 (30:03):
Well, Jeff, that's you know, that's always a it's always
a great great conversation starter. The first week of January,
you know, when the legislature convenes. This year, it's a
ninety day long legislative session. A couple things that listeners
should should be mindful of. You know, the legislature starts
with a little bit of a little bit of hurdles

(30:24):
that they're going to have to jump over. They've they're
going to have to deal with with with a significant
budget challenges that they're going to have to address by
the end of the legislative session, which typically limits a
little bit in terms of what they're arguably able to
do in terms of taxes and spending. Unfortunately, and while
the Chamber we typically focus on some major priorities, tax policy,

(30:48):
economic development and workforce development policies are really where our
key focuses are at. You know, this year we're looking
at transportation, infrastructure, energy policy, regulatory issues as well. You know,
we really I think, at the end of the day,
have our eyes focused on some things that we really
want to be able to see happen. You know, want

(31:10):
to make sure that we're we're going to remain competitive
in terms of what's happening on the economic development landscape.
You know, I know the Mayor has shared this and
I've shared it before back in twenty twenty four. Taxermitt
financing is a tool that we use in the metro
area that really helps the Omaha region grow. And we

(31:31):
want to make sure that the legislature does not do
anything that impedes our ability to grow as a metro region.
And that's one thing that the Chamber will be We'll
be very vigilant on ensuring we educate our state senators
and ensuring that they don't pass any legislation that limits
our ability to grow Through taxerrit financing because it really

(31:51):
is a tool that provides what we believe is massive
amount of return on investment to local tax payers and
really rows our economy in a very stable, very transparent
way across the metro region. We clearly tax policy we've
advocated for years in terms of reducing the tax burden

(32:12):
across the region. I think to some extent, we know
that there may be limitations of what can be done
because the state's got to be able to balance their budget,
but will be a mindful eye on that and if anything,
you know, we just want to make sure that we
are going to continue to ensure that workforce and talent
attraction is going to be a significant issue our Chamber members.

(32:35):
You know, both our major employers as well as our
medium and small employers are constantly talking about the need
to both upskill existing workers but also our ability to
attract new workers and new talent to the region. So
we've got to ensure that state public policy is helping
us do that, and that will be something the Chamber
is really focusing on here in.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
The upcoming session. Well, Heath, we appreciate you joining us
on the show today, and we appreciate it everything you
and your team members and your board members are doing
to make Metropolitan Omaha even better than it is. So
thank you so much for your leadership and thanks for
your time today.

Speaker 4 (33:10):
Appreciate it. Thanks Jeff, Thanks Bren.

Speaker 2 (33:12):
Glad to be here. Heath Mellow, President CEO Greater Omha Chamber.
We're going to take our final break of the hour
and when we come back, it'll be our Perkins Chritzer
Construction Lightning Round. A lot of things on the list,
so stay with us. You're listening to Grow Omaha, brought
to you by Dingman's Collision Center and Cheer Athletics on
News Radio eleven ten kfab. It's the Perkins Chritzer Construction

(33:34):
Lightning Round. Thanks to Perkins Chritsler Construction for making this possible.
You know, Dave Kretzer is the guy in charge over there,
and he does a great job of letting us know
some of the cool projects that Perkins Chritzer Construction is doing.
And one of them right now is Popeye's Louisiana Chicken
In Trenton love that Chicka. Trent and I love Popeyes

(33:55):
and all goes back to in college. Trenton went to
school in New Orleans at Tulane University graduating everything. You know,
there were times we were worried, but it happened.

Speaker 3 (34:06):
It was a curve.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
I went down and visited you once when you were
in college, New Orleans, and we had some delicious Popeyes
Chicken down there a few other things. So anyway, Perkins
Christs are construction building a Popeye's Chicken one hundred and
sixty eighth and Birch Street, that's just a block or
two south of West Maple Road. Should be open middle
of this year and the building is mostly closed and
coming along. And that's just one of the many things

(34:28):
that Perkins Chritzer Construction does. You can find out more
about them by going to p dash Sea Construction dot com.
Canali Indian Cuisine opens tomorrow Sunday, January twelfth in Clock
Tower Village, West Roades. This is the former Southern or
Sebastian Southern Crab space. We also have Ever Bowl, a

(34:50):
craft superfood restaurant chain specializing in U s i E.
Bowls and smoothies. It is at twenty nine thirteen South
one hundred and sixty eighth next to a Godfather Pizza.
Opening set for late February or early March. This is
a California based chain with nearly one hundred locations nationwide.
Closest existing locations are in Kansas City and Des Moines, Iowa.

(35:12):
Early Bird will open a new location in the former
Paradise Bakery and Cafe space at Village Point in April.
Breakfast and lunch restaurant started in Omaha on the Blackstone District,
now has locations all over the metro plus Lincoln and
Des Moines, Iowa. Early early Bird just opened another restaurant
at one hundred and thirty seventy third Center just in
the past Fall Trenton. This is a big one. Everyone

(35:35):
loves Tasty Pizza, which is located at sixtieth on South
sixtieth Street. This is where it used to be a
barbecue place, right there by tracks and all that sort
of thing. They're expanding. They're going to tear down kind
of a pretty iore looking industrial space at forty ninth

(35:56):
and North Saddle Creek Road and build a very attractive
freestanding pizza restaurant. Building completion plan for the fall of
twenty twenty six. This is close to the Homy Inn.
A lot of you know, let's face it, Grolmhall listeners
need Landmarks home me in. They're like, oh, yeah, we
know where that is. East La del Mar Restaurante has
announced plans to open a third location. We just don't

(36:18):
know where yet. They haven't said wow the uh thank
you for that contribution. So the Mexican restaurant is located
at fifty one oh one South thirty.

Speaker 3 (36:29):
Six Biting my tongue is what I was doing.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
Be nice and twenty five oh two South one hundred
and thirty third Plausa near one hundred thirty near one
hundred and thirty second in Center e Tahll. Vital Living
will open a second location, actually they just did yesterday
at seventy six thirty nine Cass Street. This is a
smoothie bowl, Vecan smoothie bowls, cold pressed juices, dehydrated snacks.

(36:55):
The existing location is twenty three twenty three North twenty
fourth Street, pretty close to tw twenty fourth and Lake.
And like I said, they are now open a seventy
sixth and.

Speaker 3 (37:04):
Cast I'm gonna Tramfernx cleanse.

Speaker 2 (37:07):
I'm not sure you're in their target demographic there Trenton,
but you can go give it a try. If you
want to branch out a little bit. All Casa Jalisco,
family owned Mexican bar and grill open at one hundred
and forty Second and fort recently.

Speaker 3 (37:20):
I'm gonna go there for another cleanse and.

Speaker 2 (37:23):
Riddle's Jewelry plans to open a store late this summer
at Shadow Lake Town Center in Papillion. The store will
occupy a corner bay in the middle of the mall's
small shop area. Riddles has stores existing in West Roads
and Oakview. Music's playing, which means it's time for us
to get out of here so Trenton can start as cleanses.
I'm Jeff Beils.

Speaker 3 (37:44):
And I'm Trenton Maggot.

Speaker 2 (37:45):
You've been listening to Grow Omaha, brought to you by
Dingman's Collision Center, Cheer Athletics, and Perkins Kreutzer Construction. We'll
chat with you again next week at nine right here
on news radio eleven ten KFAB